Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Entry #9)

The smell your lawn makes when you mow it is from the grass desperately trying to save itself from the attack. It’s releasing green leaf volatiles to see if anything in the area will help it end the violence. In other forms of attacks, grass will release scents as a way to attract birds and other predators to the lawn to help kill off the attacker. Unfortunately for grass, there hasn’t been a predator that will react to the scent and is capable of stopping the mighty lawnmower.

I received such good feedback on “Golden Slumbers” (Entry #6), where I detailed some of my favorite perennials, that I thought I would do something similar in this journal entry. This time around, I wanted the focus to be on some of the different trees that I like using. Since there are so many good trees that grow well around Maryland, DC, and Virginia, I’ll limit my article to around a dozen or so. That should give you a good catalog of trees to think about for your next project. Just know that lots more do exist.

One of the components of my journal entries that I always like including are useless facts and history lessons about the topic at hand. For some of the topics there are only a few to choose from and writing about them is easy. However, trees have been such an integral part of our history and are actively studied, so it’s hard to pick even one fact. That being said, I’ll do my best and will try to provide the most useless fact that I can before moving on to anything insightful.

The useless fact I’m choosing to write about has to do with the one of the largest species of trees in the world, the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), which only grows in a certain region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Many of my readers are so intelligent and so well-travelled that most of you may have heard of the Giant Sequoias and some may have even visited them at some point. So what fact could I possibly bring to light about these well-known trees? Great question. In 1853, the Discovery Tree (which was one of the largest) was cut down. Before it was cut down, it was 302’ tall with a circumference of 96’. After it was cut down the remaining stump was 6’ height and 25’ across. Normally, that wouldn’t be anything to write about, but with Discovery’s new stump being what it was, somebody had the bright idea to throw a cotillion ball on top of it. Taking place on July 4th, 1854, thirty-two dancing persons along with a combined seventeen musicians and other onlookers called the Discovery Tree stump, their dance floor for the event. So, in all, 49 occupants were on the stump at the same time. I’m happy to say that there are no reports of anyone drinking too much wine and falling off the stump. Such a case would surely have given new meaning to going out on a limb.

As I mentioned, there are loads of trees that do well in our area. With so many options, having to pick a few to highlight is both a good idea (in order to simplify things) and a bad idea (because some might not be right for your conditions and there might be a better suited tree out there for your project). That is why I always recommend talking with an expert first about your conditions, and also what you’re hoping to accomplish with the planting of the tree.

Ornamental Evergreen Trees (in no particular order):

Blue Atlas Cedar (scientific name- Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’)

Specs-
Full Sun; 30’ spread; 40-60’ height

What I like-
I think it’s got a great foliage color, especially with lots of the popular Colorado Blue Spruce succumbing to Needle Blight or Cytospora Cancer in recent years. I also like that it has some cool relatives which could also be considered for your project. These include the Deodar Cedar, Electric Blue Deodar Cedar, and the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar.

What I don’t care for-
It gets to be a decent size, so you’ll need the space for its maturity. We also don’t see a lot of them being grown, so availability is limited and pricing could reflect that.

Southern Magnolia (scientific name- Magnolia grandiflora)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 30’ spread; 60’ height

What I like-
The classic look of the tree, as well as the bloom. I also like the fact that it can tolerate wetter soil conditions, although it prefers well-drained soils. Additionally, other varieties of Southern Magnolia, ‘Alta’ and ‘Little Gem’ have the same great leaf and flower, but don’t get nearly as wide.

What I don’t care for-
Hard winters and strong winds decimate the foliage. That’s what nurseries are dealing with now since the Magnolias are looking terrible due to Winter Burn. It is not deadly, it just makes the foliage look really bad, and as a result, the trees need to be pruned heavily before they can flush back out again.

Hinoki Cypress (scientific name- Chamaecyparis obtusa)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 15-30’ spread; 40-60’ height

What I like-
The look and foliage style of the tree is unique, and you’ll often find it or it’s relatives in Asian style gardens. While the Chamaecyparis obtusa is a formal green color and shape, there are several other varieties that have a unique yellow/green color, and even more that have a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

What I don’t care for-
They can get to be pretty expensive. Also, they prefer to be sheltered from cold winter winds (which means just don’t plant them alone in a big open field)

Screening Evergreen Trees (in no particular order):

Hybrid Hollies (scientific name- Ilex x)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 8-30’ spread; 15-40’ height

What I like-
When I chose to put hybrid hollies into one group like this, I’m referring to some of the more popular hybrid hollies such as Nellie Stevens, Dragon Lady, Foster, Mary Nell, Robin, and Dr. Kassab. These hollies offer that nice, classic look, and while there are others, these are the ones I prefer. Additionally, when pollinated by males, some of the female varieties will get a nice red berry in the winter. Make sure you do your homework before selecting one because they have a broad spectrum of mature sizes and attributes.

What I don’t care for-
The hollies typically do pretty well around these parts, but sometimes there is the potential for insect and disease problems. Additionally, I have seen my fair share of hollies that will suffer from leaf scorch (winter burn) or chlorosis (yellowing of leaves due to high PH soil). Many of these problems are treatable.

Japanese Cedar (scientific name- Cryptomeria)

Specs-
Full Sun; 10-25’ spread; 30-50’ height

What I like-
Another evergreen with nice foliage. It’s wispy, yet contained and I think many of my clients prefer using it because it’s not the Hollies, Green Giants, and Leyland Cypress that you see everywhere else.

What I don’t care for-
In colder winter climates, the Cryptomeria might turn bronze. The foliage will then return to it’s prominent green when the weather warms up.

Green Giant Arborvitae (scientific name- Thuja)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 10-20’ spread; 30-60’ height

What I like-
What’s not to like about the most popular evergreen screen tree in our area in over 50 years? It’s got a great size, great foliage, is deer resistant, and doesn’t suffer from snow damage like a Leyland might. It also is one of the most pest and disease tolerant plants we know.

What I don’t care for-
Green Giants are very picky about their water situation, so they will show you right away (foliage will begin turning brown at the tips) if they are getting either too much or not enough water. Also, the nursery industry has only recently begun to have enough trees to fill the demand. For years, there was a shortage because that was all anyone was planting, and as such availability was limited and prices were sky-high.

Canadian Hemlock (scientific name- Tsuga canadensis)

Specs-
Part Shade to Full Shade; 15-30’ spread; 20-50’ height

What I like-
The fact that it’s actually an evergreen that grows in shady conditions; there are not many of them out there.

What I don’t care for-
The Hemlock woolly adelgid is an insect that has decimated Hemlocks all along the East Coast for many years. The insect feeds on the branches of mature hemlocks and will kill the tree if unchecked in around 4-5 years. It’s this insect that has made landscapers stop planting the tree all together; and for good reason. The reason I’m including it on my list is because once spotted, the insect can be killed and the tree can be saved. That being said, the treatment would need to be performed once every year, so I would only suggest using this tree if you’re going to check and care for the Hemlock periodically. You can get more information on Hemlock wooly adelgid from the link below.

What I like-
It’s a great, full evergreen that can stand on its own. It can screen both wind and views and could also be considered ornamental due to it’s unique drooping branches (once mature).

What I don’t care for-
It will get pretty big, so give it some space.

Ornamental Deciduous Trees (in no particular order):

Eastern Redbud (scientific name- Cercis canadensis)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 20’ spread; 20-30’ height

What I like-
This is the tree that when it starts blooming in April, everyone says “oh my, what is that tree?”. Before any foliage starts to grow later in the Spring, the tree branches will fill themselves up with beautiful pink flowers. I also like that there are a few really cool varieties of this tree. Forest Pansy has the pink flowers, but a dark purple leaf up until Fall; and Alba gets white flower clusters on the branches instead of the standard pink flowers.

What I don’t care for-
There’s not too much not like; it makes for a good tree in many conditions.

Crape Myrtle (scientific name- Lagerstroemia)

Specs-
Full Sun; 8-30’ spread; 10-30’ height

What I like-
The blooms are full, long lasting, and vibrant. They fill the area with great color through the summer, and the trees as a whole are appealing. Most are multi-stemmed, some are single stem, and the trunk can sometimes have its own interest. Additionally, there seem to be a never-ending option of flower color, leaf color, and tree size to choose from. So, do your homework before selecting a cultivar.

What I don’t care for-
You really need to cut the branches back and fertilize every year to get the best out of the tree.

Cherry Tree (scientific name- Prunus)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 20-30’ spread; 20-30’ height

What I like-
I like the blooms early in the Spring. The two most popular varieties ‘Yoshino’ and ‘Kwanzan’ offer white and pink flowers, respectively. Also, the ‘Okame’ is a little bit smaller and gets a nice pink bloom. There are also many other varieties of flowering Cherry, some of which have a great weeping form. So, do your homework before picking a type.

What I don’t care for-
Flowering Cherries are extremely prone to several types of pests and diseases which will take a toll on the appearance of the tree after the leaves have been established. Since these trees are so popular, a lot is known on how to treat different symptoms. So, if you’re unsure, consult an expert. Also, deer will go after several varieties of the flowering cherry (Weeping Higan, I’m definitely looking at you), so do your homework first.

Sweetbay Magnolia (scientific name- Magnolia virginiana)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 10-20’ spread; 10-20’ height

What I like-
Although it’s a deciduous form of Magnolia, the Sweetbay will still get that same creamy Magnolia flower as the evergreen varieties. I also like the multi-stemmed structure and the general form. Additionally, the Magnolia virginiana is one of a small handful of nice trees that will tolerate moist and wet soils.

What I don’t care for-
Due to their muti-stemmed trunks and the habit of their growth, younger Sweetbay will feel more like a large shrub than a small tree for many years.

Red Maple (scientific name- Acer rubrum)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 10-40’ spread; 30-60’ height

What I like-
Red Maples have a great form and feel, but let’s not kid ourselves; they’re planted for the Fall color.

What I don’t care for-
Various conditions such as the amount of sun exposure each leaf gets, the shortening days, and the temperature variations will all impact the Fall color, so sometimes your Red Maple might not actually turn red in the Fall. There are also a few pests that might affect the tree, but really that threat exists for all plants. The only thing I would recommend is to do your homework first because there are so many different varieties of the Red Maple.

River Birch (scientific name- Betula nigra)

Specs-
Full Sun to Part Shade; 25-40’ spread; 30-50’ height

What I like-
I like the nice, clean, and wispy look of River Birch year-round. Even though they lose their leaves in the Winter, I like the color and peeling of the bark, as well as the branch structure. The River Birch can also handle moist and wet soil conditions.

What I don’t care for-
There are two popular varieties of River Birch. They are ‘Heritage’ and ‘Dura-Heat’. They are almost identical in form and function, but the ‘Dura-Heat’ is a little more resistant to insects, than the ‘Heritage’. That being said, they are both pretty tolerant and make for a good tree.

Ginkgo (scientific name- Ginkgo biloba)

Specs-
Full Sun; 30-40’ spread; 40-70’ height

What I like-
The simplicity of the tree with its leaf, size, and structure. The best feature though, is the Fall foliage; a striking yellow/gold.

What I don’t care for-
Do not get a female! No, that’s not dating advice. If you get a Ginkgo, make sure it’s a male tree, because the females are stinky! (I should note that the female tree itself isn’t stinky, just the fruit).